Greek Language

Greek is one of the oldest recorded languages in the world, with written records going back over 3,400 years to the Mycenaean period (Linear B script). In terms of “Modern Greek” as we speak it today, it’s only been around for roughly 500–600 years, starting around the 15th century CE. It belongs to the Indo-European language family, but it forms its own unique branch, which means it is not directly descended from Latin, Sanskrit, or other ancient Indo-European languages, though it shares some distant roots with them. It created the first true alphabet system that fully represented spoken sounds.

How it evolves

During the Mycenaean period (1600–1100 BCE), the Mycenaeans used the Linear B script, a syllabic writing system mainly for palace records and administration, revealing that they spoke an early form of Greek. Greek then evolved through several stages:

• Ancient Greek ( 9th century BCE–6th century CE): dialects like Ionic, Doric, and Aeolic; the language of Homer, philosophy, and classical literature.

• Koine Greek (4th century BCE–6th century CE): a simplified, common form that spread across the Hellenistic world; the language of the New Testament.

• Medieval/Byzantine Greek (6th–15th century CE) : incorporating foreign influences and showing the transition toward modern pronunciation and grammar.

• Modern Greek (15th century–today): simplified grammar and new vocabulary, yet retaining a deep connection to its ancient roots.

Why is it unique

Greek is unique for its extraordinary continuity. It has been continuously spoken and written for over three millennia, from the Mycenaean period and Linear B tablets, through Ancient, Koine, and Medieval Greek, to Modern Greek today. Both Greek and Latin belong to the Indo-European language family, but Greek forms its own branch and diverged very early. Unlike Latin, which became a “dead” language, Greek has survived and remained a living, spoken language.

The Greek alphabet, developed from the Phoenician script, was a major innovation: unlike Phoenician, which recorded mainly consonants, the Greeks added vowels, creating the first true alphabet. This allowed Greek to thrive as a precise, flexible writing system and later influenced Latin and Cyrillic scripts. Greek vocabulary has had a global impact, forming the basis of much scientific, medical, and philosophical terminology. Over time, Greek grammar simplified some complex systems, yet Modern Greek still retains enough of its older forms to be recognizable.

Impact on Philosophy

Greek is not only for its continuity and alphabet, but also for its influence on philosophy. Many foundational thinkers of Western philosophy, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics wrote in Greek, using the language to explore ethics, logic, politics, and the nature of reality. Greek allowed expression of abstract concepts, like logos (reason), ethos (character), and pathos (emotion), shaping the way humans think about the world. Its philosophical legacy has been translated and studied for centuries, influencing education, science, and thought across the globe.